Netflix iPhone app and 3G iPhone issues

Did you hear? The Netflix iPhone app launched today. It’s pretty cool. If you have a Netflix account it lets you watch from your streaming queue, it even loads the information on which episodes of a series you’ve already watched, or watched part of. You can search for new movies and add them to the instant queue or start watching right away. What you cannot do from the app is access or add to your regular queue. (I hope they make the Netflix Mobile site snazzier soon.)

I have a 3G iPhone and I’ve read that the Netflix app won’t work unless you’ve upgraded to iOS 3.1.3. Now, just in case you don’t know, if you have a 3G do not update your to iOS 4.0! (That would be the current one.) This causes all sorts of trouble for 3G phones. If you didn’t upgrade to 3.1.3 when it was out you have to do some fiddly upgrade and downgrade action to get there. This thread over at Ask Metafilter has some advice and links on getting your 3G phone to the iOS 3.1.3. The commenters there also say that rumor is the iOS 4.1 will fix the troubles for the 3G iPhones. Thank goodness.

Just a note, I have a 3G phone and have all the upgrades except the very last one. It’s working good so far. I did however have to uninstall all my apps and reinstall them one by one before I upgraded as my backup was taking over 24 hours and timing out.
I learned that. at least for my phone, I really need to update apps and download new ones through Itunes. Doing it over the air was making my phone do weird stuff. Now it runs awesome. And the Netflix app rocks! I watched old Avatar episodes : )

Aha…I did not know that thing about not upgrading my 3G to the 4.0 ios. I’d plugged my iphone into my computer to shift over some photos and the “New software update available, upgrade now” thing came up so I did it, not really thinking. The only buggy thing I’ve noticed since upgrading is that my phone freezes all the freaking time now, and occasionally I have a problem with apps not wanting to open, or crashing during the opening process. Wondering if I should figure out how to downgrade or just cross my fingers and hope the next update fixes things.

Jinxie – I’m so sorry. I don’t know how to advise you as to downgrading or waiting, I don’t think there is a firm expected date for the 4.1 update. Best of luck, lots of people have had this trouble so a little Googling might turn up the best option for you.

For those having the blank screen issue, go to Settings->Netflix and turn Reset to on. You’ll be prompted to log in again, and once you do, you should be able to see everything. If that doesn’t work, the guy at Netflix customer service also said that it’s sometimes caused when the time and/or date are wrong, so make sure those are also correct on your phone (easiest way to do this is to set it to automatic).

Hey, just wanted folks to know that there is a forum on apple.com regarding the Netflix app and older iPhone models (3G). If anyone is having issues described in the following forum, please contact Netflix customer support (you have to use a phone) and report the issue. As of right now they (Netflix) are pleading ignorance. Forum:

Had the app installed on a 3G…accidently deleted? Went to app store to reinstall and the “button” to “buy” is not there…the program shows at the bottom of the settings tab, tried re-syncing to computer to reinstall app…no luck…any advice?

Does anybody else have the problem with screen orientation not able to change when using 3.1.3? I had my 3GS upgraded to 4.01 and downgraded for other reasons. When I had it under 4.01 the screen would flip, but now it will not.

I use a cassette case as a stand while I’m in bed, but the charging cable gets in the way.